Monday, August 30, 2010

Zinnia--The "Cinderella" of the Garden

"Sing a song of seasons! Something bright in all! Flowers in the summer, fires in the fall." This short poem by R.L. Stevenson sums up the changing landscape as August fades away and September prepares take it's turn at the helm in the days ahead. Summer's bounty is not yet ready to let go and the vibrant colors of it's peak begin to mellow as we loose over two minutes of daylight each day since the solstice way back in June.

This might be a sad thing if it weren't for zinnias, dubbed by the Victorian Age as the "Cinderella of the Garden," with their vivacious "flirtyness" wrapped up in a profuse rainbow of colors and sizes. Butterflies flock to them. Bumble Bees adore them and humans, well, we grow them for the same reasons, too.

I think that I would dearly miss their stately presence, especially the tall 'Zinnia Elegans' with long graceful branches that seem to reach out everywhere and touch everything close to them in my gardens. Zinnias support flower vines, gladly fill space that other flowers cannot begin to accomplish and cheerfully hold on to their color even as the sun wanes and the nights grow a bit cooler, until the first frost comes along and zinnias bid "adieu" to the garden. I'll save zinnia seeds and buy some, too, for next year when I drop them in the soil wherever I see fit to grow another pretty zinnia.

The genus, Zinnia is a member of the Sunflower Family (Asteracaea) and it's absence in our gardens symbolize just that in the language of flowers, being associated with thoughts of absent friends and loved ones. Zinnias represent goodness, lasting affection and daily remembrance, too. Any one of us can fondly recall picking zinnias in our grandparents garden as well as seeing bouquets of them brightening up our mother's kitchen table. How fitting for a flower that is so easy to grow, yet does not have a fleeting presence in our gardens but politely takes up residence and encourages those around it to stay and chat awhile, perhaps over the garden gate. There is not one stitch of jealousy to be found in a zinnia who only wants to compliment and show off its surroundings with sentiments that radiate fondness and friendliness making this popular heirloom a modern garden standard as well. Along with each color sprouts another nuance of this bodacious mid to late summer bloomer; yellow for daily remembrance, white for goodness, red (my favorite) for constancy and magenta for love and affection. I'm sure the list of its meanings grows as the pinwheel of zinnia colors expands.

Originally, zinnias were native to Mexico. They were discovered by Spanish explorers who brought them back to Spain and the rest of Europe. However, the zinnias of that time were not the ruffled beauties they are today. Rather, they were dull and considered homely. In, fact the Mayans called them "mal de ojos" which means "eyesores." This feeling was also shared by most Europeans of the time who dubbed zinnias "everybody's flower" or "poorhouse flower." A German scientist and botanist by the name of Johann Zinn, who lived in the 1700's and whose hobby was breeding wildflowers, is credited with the first steps in transforming this cast-away weed into the pretty princess-like bloom that now graces flower beds and boarders everywhere. Hence, zinnia's common name, "Cinderella of the Garden," is a Cinderella story...complete with a happy ending for us all!

Pretty Thumbelina "Persian Carpet"

Fair Zinnia There are those, I suppose, who prefer to think of zinnias as stout, standing stiff and stoic in their garden boarders but, I prefer to picture zinnias as garden fairies' favorites. frolicking gaily in their green and fancy skirts, with their free-flowing "moppy" heads swaying in the wind.Gathering memories to hold fast to when cold days destined, are here and Autumn's frost sends the zinnias away,Until they reappear on a mid-summer's day. (by me, Cyndie
August, 2010)

Take Home a Piece of Virginia!

PAGES

The Blooming Hill Garden Shop

Our GPS/MapQuest address is 19929 Telegraph Springs Road Purcellville, VA 20132. We are located in Philomont just off of historic Snickersville Turnpike. Our shop is open Fridays and Saturdays 10am until 5pm and other days by appointment or request. We hope to see you soon!

Blooming Hill Events and Happenings

Saturday, August 5 - Private wedding shower tea party here at Blooming Hill. Blooming Hill Shop and grounds will be open to the public.

Saturday, August 12 - Private evening wedding here at Blooming Hill(5pm until 9pm). Blooming Hill shop and grounds will be open until 3pm.

Saturday, August 26 - Private Baby Shower Event here at the farmlet. The shop and grounds are open to the public. 10am until 5 pm

Monday, August 28 - Market Street Writer's Workshop and Tea, 10 am until 12 noon, here at the farmlet. Open to the public. Contact Lisa Coburn at www.marketstreetwriters.com for cost and information.

Tuesday, September 12 - Loudoun County Weaver's and Textiles Group here at the farmlet for tea. 12 noon.

Saturday and Sunday, September 16 and 17 - Visit Blooming Hill's Booth at The Bluemont Fair. Blooming Hill Shop and Grounds are open in Philomont, too.

Saturday, September 23 - United States Lavender Growers Association South Atlantic Region #12 Gathering here at the Farmlet, 10am until 3pm. The shop and grounds are open to the public, 10am until 5pm.

Saturday, September 23 - United State Lavender Growers Association South Atlantic Region 12 Meeting here at Blooming Hill. The Blooming Hill Shop and grounds are open, to the public too.

Saturday and Sunday, October 20 and 21 - Loudoun County Fall Farm and Color Tour. Visit the farmlet for tea and scones. $15/person. No reservations necessary. Rain or shine.

Friday and Saturday, December 1 and 2 - Holiday Greens Workshop and Tea, here at the farmlet. More details to follow.

Stay tuned...There's always more to see and do at Blooming Hill!

Press

HSA Potomac Unit Member

Lavender Sparkling Wine with lavender chocolates.

Press

Living the rural life!

A little bit about me

It started innocently enough. After a rewarding career in retail management in the Washington, D.C. area, I've been growing and selling lavender for over 20 years here in the rolling, green foothills of the beautiful Blue Ridge in Western Loudoun County of Northern Virginia. Through the years, I have collected more than 90 different varieties of this beautiful plant and, along with my landscape architect husband, Peter, I welcome garden clubs, groups, guests and visitors to Blooming Hill from April through December. Our son, Kevin, now graduated from college, and on his way to medical school, often stops by to help out around the place and our loving and loyal black lab, Tucker, is always at the ready to welcome you. I love this little piece of paradise we call home and business and I love to share my experiences in gardening and living life among the flora and fauna of a tiny rural hamlet. Aside from gardening and growing lavender, I love to go antiquing, and you can often find me on the golf course trying to conquer the game. It's never a dull moment in my life. Besides, there is never any time to waste on dull moments!